Magnetic valve



Aug. 19, 1958 wlTZEL 2,848,188

MAGNETIC VALVE Filed Jan. 22, 1954 TH ERMOSTA F k N IN V EN TOR. f a VZZ'Z 91 5/78 (j cMAu-GM United States Patent C) MAGNETIC VALVE Ernst Witzel, Wausau, Wis., assignor to Baso Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 22, 1954, Serial No. 405,598

1 Claim. (Cl. 251141) This invention relates to improvements in magnetically operated valves, and more particularly to valves operable on relatively small amounts of power, for example the power available from a single thermoelectric generator.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved magnetically operated valve which is characterized by its simplicity of construction and efiiciency in operation, there being no levers or other force transmitting mechanism utilized therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved valve of the aforementioned character having a power unit which includes a magnet having a pole face and also having a fuel passage which communicates with said pole face, there being an armature coacting with said magnet which also functions as a valve member to seal off said fuel passage when said armature is in attracted position with respect to the magnet pole face.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved valve of the class described which is direct-acting in character and is operable on the power available from a single thermoelectric generator, said valve being well adapted for use in connection with a diaphragm type valve for controlling the operation of the latter.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved valve of the character described wherein the armature is also cooperable with a vent passage to seal off the latter when said armature permits fuel flow through the pole face fuel passage, said armature being operable to open said vent passage on movement to attracted position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved valve of the class described which lends itself to economical manufacture by mass production methods.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be come apparent as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing illustrating one complete embodiment of the invention. In the drawing:

The sole figure is a vertical sectional view of the improved valve embodied in a fuel burning apparatus which is shown semi-diagrammatically.

In the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates the improved valve associated with a diaphragm type valve 6 for the control of the flow of fuel to a main burner 7, there being a pilot burner 8 in coacting relationship with the main burner 7, and there being a thermoelectric generator 9, for example a thermocouple, subject to the heat of the pilot burner flame for supplying thermoelectric current to the valve 5 under the control of a thermostat 10.

The diaphragm valve 6 may comprise a pair of complementary cup-shaped valve body sections 11 and 12. The section 11 is provided with a fuel inlet conduit 13 which is fixed to and communicates with the interior of a centrally disposed cup-shaped fitting 14, the open upper end of which provides an annular valve seat 15. The body section 11 is also provided with a fuel outlet conduit 16 which may be fixed to the fitting 14 as shown and may be provided with a cross bore 17 affording a fuel outlet Opening. The fuel inlet conduit 13 may be connected to 2 ,848,188 Patented Aug. 19, 1958 a suitable source of gaseous fuel under pressure (not shown), and the fuel outlet conduit 13 may be connected to the main burner 7 through a fuel supply conduit 18.

A flexible diaphragm 19 is marginally clamped between the valve body sections 11 and 12 to provide a chamber 20 within the section 12 and a chamber 21 within the section 11, the sections 11 and 12 being held in assembled relation by suitable connecting members (not shown). A central portion of the diaphragm 19 is clamped between a back-up plate 22 and a valve member 23, the latter having a resilient facing 24. The valve member 23 and backup plate 22 are held together for example by a screw 25 and a nut 26 threaded thereon. The valve member 23 is cooperable with the valve seat 15 to control the flow of gaseous fuel through the valve 6.

The valve 5 comprises a base plate 27 which may be mounted on the body section 12 of the valve 6 as shown. A generally cup-shaped hood or casing 28 is mounted on the base plate 27 to form a chamber 32 therewith, said casing being provided with an annular attaching flange 29 of substantial thickness. The hood 28 and base plate 27 are secured to the body section 12 by suitable connecting members (not shown) and a gas tight seal is elfected be tween the connected parts by annular sealing spacers 30 and 31 which may be of plastic or other suitable material. The base plate 27 and body section 12 are formed respectively with passages 33 and 34 to afford communication between the chambers 32 and 20. The upper surface of the base plate 27 is formed with a cup-shaped recess 35 having a smoothly grounded flat bottom surface 36. The base plate 27 is also provided with an L-shaped vent passage 37 which communicates with the surface 36 as shown, there being a vent conduit 38 communicating with the outer end of the passage 37 and terminating adjacent the main burner 7. Positioned in the recess 35 is a cylindrical armature 39 having a diameter substantially smaller than that of the recess 35 and having a thickness substantially equal to the depth of said recess. The armature 39 is made of magnetically permeable metal, for example the steel alloy commonly known as Alleghany 4750, and said armature has smoothly ground flat upper and lower surfaces.

The hood 28 is provided with a fitting 40 having an -with a flux generating coil 45 which may be wound on one of the arms thereof, said coil having one end in circuit with the connector 43 as shown and having its other end grounded to the fitting 40 as shown. The magnet frame 42 is provided with a pair of smoothly ground coplanar pole faces which are preferably parallel with the recess surface 36 and are spaced from the upper surface of the armature 39 when the latter is in the retracted position shown.

The arm of the magnet frame 42, not provided with the coil 45, is formed with an angled fuel passage 48 which opens into the pole face 46, as shown, said passage also opening through the side wall of said arm. Means is provided for supplying gaseous fuel under pressure to the passage 48, said means including communicating passages 49 and 50 in the body sections 11 and 12 respectively, and passages 51 and 52 in the base plate 27 and connecting flange 29 respectively. A conduit 53 affords communication between the passages 52 and 48 as shown.

In the illustrated electrical circuit one terminal of the thermoelectric generator 9 is grounded as shown,

and the other terminal of said generator is connected in circuit with one terminal of the thermostat '10 by a conductor 54. The other terminal of the thermostat 10 is connected to the terminal tip 44 by a conductor 55, and the fitting 40 is suitably grounded as shown to complete the series circuit between the generator, thermostat and flux-generating coil.

In operation of the illustrated apparatus, the thermoelectric generator 9 is continuously heated by the fiame of the pilot burner 8, but when the thermostat 10 is not calling for heat, no substantial current can flow to the flux generating coil 45 and the latter is deenergized. With the coil 45 deenergized, the armature 39 is retained in the retracted position shown by gravity and fluid pressure. In this position the lower surfaceof the armature sealingly engages the surface 36 which in effect functions as a valve seat, said armature thereby sealing off the vent passage 37. At the same time the fuel passage 48 is uncovered and communicates with the chamber 32. Fuel under pressure thus flows from the inlet conduit 13 through the passages 49, 50, 51 and 52, conduit 53 and passage 48 into the chamber 32. The fuel under pressure flows from the chamber 32 through the passages 33 and 34 and into the chamber 20. The fuel pressure acting on the diaphragm 19, together with the weight of back-up plate 22 and valve 23, causes the valve 23 to be moved onto the seat 15 to prevent the flow of fuel to the main burner 7.

When the thermostat 10 calls for heat, it completes the series circuit between the generator 9 and coil 45, causing the latter to generate flux which links the armature 39 and lifts the latter into engagement with the pole faces 46 and 47. When the armature is in the raised or attracted position, its upper surface sealingly encationof said valve is in no wise limited to use with gages the pole face 46 and closes off the fuel passage 48. Lifting of the armature 39 affords communication between .the vent passage 37 and chamber 32, so that the fuel entrapped within said chamber and in the chamber 20 can be vented through the conduit 38 and burned at the main burner. On venting of the chamber 32, the pressure within the chambers 32 and 20 drops to or near atmospheric, and the pressure of the fuel within the fitting 14 and below the valve 23 lifts said valve off the seat 15 to permit fuel flow to the main burner 7.

When the thermostat 10 no longer calls for heat, it interrupts the flow of current from the generator 9 to the coil 45, whereupon the armature 39 drops to the lowered or retracted position shown under the bias of the pressure of the fuel from the passage 48 as well as that of the force of gravity. This shuts off the vent passage 37 and uncovers the inlet passage 48 to permit the fuel pressure to build up in the chambers 32 and 20, with resultant closure of the valve 23 on the seat 15 and shut-off of all fuel flow to the main burner 7.

While the illustrated valve 5 is shown in conjunction with the diaphragm valve 6, it is obvious that the applidiaphragm valves. By utilizing the armature 39 as a valve member, and by utilizing one of the magnet frame pole faces as a valve seat, a compact and efficient structure is provided, said structure having a relatively small number of parts and being entirely devoid of levers, pivots and other friction producing elements commonly formed in force transmitting mechanisms.

The form of the invention selected for illustration is used for the purpose of disclosure only and is not intended to impose unnecessary limitations on the claims or to confine the patented invention to a particular use. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claim.

What is claimed as the invention is:

In combination: A valve body having a chamber and having a vent passage outlet opening centrally located in the bottom of said chamber and provided therein with a valve seat; a permeable, generally U-shaped magnet frame having a pair of spaced legs terminating in spaced coplanar horizontal pole faces within said chamber spaced above said valve seat, said magnet frame being formed with a fuel inlet passage terminating in a port communicating with one of said pole faces; means for supplying fuel under pressure to said passage; a flux- .generating coil on said frame; and a permeable imperforate armature in said chamber coacting with said magnet frame and having upper and lower planar surfaces, said armature being movable in response to energization of said coil from a lowered position wherein the lower armature surface is in sealing engagement with said vent passage valve seat and the upper armature surface is spaced from said magnet pole faces, to a secondposition wherein the upper armature surface engages the entire surface area of said ported magnet pole face and sealingly closes said fuel inlet passage and the lower armature surface is spaced from said vent passage valve seat, wherefore said chamber is subjected to the fuel pressure of said fuel supplying means when said armature is in said first position and said chamber is isolated from said fuel supplying means and vented to the atmosphere when said armature is in said second position.

853,236 Germany Oct. 23, 1952 

